Who was Anthony Comstock?

Senior Moments

Anthony Comstock (1844-1915) was a self-appointed anti-vice crusader from New York, who in the 1870s managed to shepherd through Congress a stringent anti-obscenity statute. This statute forbade, among other "impurities," the importing or mailing of contraceptives or contraceptive information. In the same era, Comstock-type statutes enacted in many state legislatures forbade the dissemination or, in some cases, even the use of contraceptives. Comstock was so zealous and effective in the enforcement of these laws that by the late 19th century, the subject of contraception had become unmentionable -- even in major medical textbooks. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about/photoalb/COMSTOCK.HTM [Jun 18 04 6:23 AM] Senior Moments writes: Rumour has it that the phrase 'Laughing stock' came about because of Comstock. He did make it into the dictionary, thanks to George Bernard Shaw, who coined the word "Comstockery." Jun 18 04, 6:19 AM

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